A man who was badly wounded in a backyard shooting ambush that claimed six lives in Wilkinsburg had recovered enough by Thursday to appear in court on an aggravated assault charge.

Lamont Powell is charged in a December incident involving the boyfriend of Brittany Powell, who was among those killed in the March 9 attack at her home on Franklin Avenue. The fatal shootings remain unsolved.

Powell had no comment while entering or leaving Municipal Court. His left hand was heavily bandaged, and he was accompanied by a woman and a man who kept his hand on Powell's shoulder as they walked thorugh the hallway.

Powell remains free on bail. It's unclear if he is in protective custody or has made a request for protection.

Although no arrests have been made in the Wilkinsburg killings, the District Attorney's Office identified Robert Thomas as a suspect on Thursday morning. He is being held without bail on unrelated drug and weapons charges.

Powell "had no reaction" to the news about Thomas and is "just focused on getting better," Walker said. The attorney added that his client was shot five or six times and still has bullets lodged inside him.

"His prayers go out to the families who were affected, but he just wants to get better," Walker said. "He has tubes coming out of him. He's still stitched up."

Investigators have suggested that Lamont Powell was the intended target of two unknown gunmen who opened fire on a late-night cookout and killed Chanetta Powell, Jerry Shelton, Brittany Powell, Tina Shelton and Shada Mahone.

Lamont Powell's mother, Jessica Shelton, has told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that she does not know why her son might have been a target, and the DA's office said it's one of several theories being explored by Allegheny County homicide detectives.